The abrupt transfer of Manatee Middle School Principal Pam Vickaryous has prompted a flurry of questions from students, faculty and parents.

Vickaryous was assigned to the school district administration center Jan. 22, pending an ongoing investigation, district spokesman Greg Turchetta said.

Turchetta would not answer questions about the investigation, the second Vickaryous has undergone since she began working at Manatee Middle School in 2014. She has been employed by the district since 2009.

Vickaryous said she could not discuss the current investigation because she had signed a nondisclosure agreement in effect for the duration of the investigation.

Documents from the first investigation, conducted in 2016, show at least nine Manatee administrators and teachers filed official complaints alleging the principal had engaged in a pattern of erratic and hostile behavior that caused multiple staff members to leave the school in East Naples.

After reviewing the complaints, school district officials did not pursue disciplinary action against Vickaryous but advised her to conduct herself in a manner that is “above reproach” at all times and to ensure a positive work environment for all staff.

In a sworn statement, Rebecca Merhar, who worked at the school for eight years and was the principal for curriculum and instruction from 2014-16, said she loved the school but left because of ongoing conflict with Vickaryous.

“The theme with Pam is her tone of voice, the anger, and the freedom she has to humiliate people,” she said.

Merhar detailed several outbursts from Vickaryous directed toward herself and others. She said working with Vickaryous was like “walking on eggshells.”

That sentiment was echoed by several other staff members who decided to leave because of Vickaryous’ behavior.

Those staffers included Assistant Principal Steven Brown, who has been employed with the school district since 1998. Brown described Vickaryous in his sworn statement as “very challenging and condescending to everyone.”

Brown said he witnessed repeated shouting matches and often heard Vickaryous speaking poorly about employees.

“Getting heated with her seemed to be a rite of passage,” he said. “I have never seen interactions like this with any other professional in my 14-year career.”

Some employees said Vickaryous told them that she covertly recorded conversations with teachers. Ellen Palys, who worked in support services, said in her testimony Vickaryous had told her that she let her husband listen to the recordings.

“Pam is a bully,” she said. “She targets everyone.”

In her sworn statement, Vickaryous denied ever recording conversations or raising her voice.

"I am absolutely surprised to hear that people at work are fearful or feel as if they need to 'walk on eggshells' around me," she said. "I think some miscommunication may have occurred."

When reached for comment, Vickaryous said the district did not find any wrongdoing on her part and told her “that it was a lot of noise.” She said she did not feel comfortable discussing the issue further.

A Change.org petition calling for Vickaryous' reinstatement has been signed by more than 500 people, many of whom suggest Vickaryous is being punished for holding her staff to too high a standard.

Almost a dozen people, including several of Vickaryous’ family members, spoke out against her removal at a School Board meeting Feb. 6.

Many speakers credited Vickaryous for bringing the school from a C grade to a few points shy of an A and suggested many teachers did not take well to her strict managerial approach.

Joseph Oneto, a sixth-grade world history teacher, called her the “secret to the success at Manatee” and commended her for providing food and water to families in need after Hurricane Irma.

Manatee Middle School sixth-grader Natalia Martinez, 13, said her heart sank when she found out Vickaryous had been removed.

“She’s a dedicated principal — and I don’t say that lightly,” she said. “She makes us feel like one big happy family.”